IMHO.

CRYPTARK vs Metal Ascension

CRYPTARK and Metal Ascension both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. CRYPTARK (2017) is 7 years older than Metal Ascension (2024). CRYPTARK scores higher on Steam reviews (83% positive) than Metal Ascension (50% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

Which should you pick?

Choose CRYPTARK

Choose CRYPTARK if you want a Strategy, Indie, and Adventure game with Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. CRYPTARK launched in 2017.

Choose Metal Ascension

Choose Metal Ascension if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Metal Ascension launched in 2024.

Both CRYPTARK and Metal Ascension sit in Action on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.

Side-by-side comparison

CRYPTARK vs Metal Ascension — Steam metadata comparison
CRYPTARK — Steam game coverCRYPTARKMetal Ascension — Steam game coverMetal Ascension
Released20172024
GenresAction, Strategy, Indie, AdventureAction
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedDeck Playable
Price14.99 USD7.49 USD
Steam reviews83% positive (729 reviews)50% positive (10 reviews)
MultiplayerMulti-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-opSingle-player only
DevelopersAlientrapDon Pachi

Side by side

CRYPTARK vs Metal Ascension — FAQ

Should I play CRYPTARK or Metal Ascension first?
If you want chronology, CRYPTARK (2017) came out before Metal Ascension (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
Are CRYPTARK and Metal Ascension similar?
They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
Does Metal Ascension have multiplayer like CRYPTARK?
No. CRYPTARK supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Metal Ascension is listed as single-player only.
CRYPTARK vs Metal Ascension — Verdict (2026) · imho.run